Compare the2026 Cadillac Escalade-VVS 2026 BMW X5 M

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac Escalade-V are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

A passive infrared night vision system standard on the Escalade-V helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The X5 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Cadillac Escalade-V’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the BMW X5 M does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Escalade-V and the X5 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Cadillac Escalade-V weighs 854 to 1021 pounds more than the BMW X5 M. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade-V is safer than the BMW X5 M:

	Escalade-V	X5 M
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	146	209
Neck Injury Risk	23%	34%
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	152/161 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	233	342
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Compression	66 lbs.	91 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade-V is safer than the BMW X5 M:

	Escalade-V	X5 M
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	72
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	30 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	584 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	308
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	764 lbs.	796 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5 M. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 M ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 62 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escalade-V’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escalade-V has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The X5 M doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

Engine

The Escalade-V’s 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 65 more horsepower (682 vs. 617) and 100 lbs.-ft. more torque (653 vs. 553) than the X5 M’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade-V’s fuel efficiency. The X5 M doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escalade-V’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 M (24 vs. 21.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escalade-V ESV’s standard fuel tank has 6.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 M (28.3 vs. 21.9 gallons).

The Escalade-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X5 M doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac Escalade-V, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X5 M.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Escalade-V’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X5 M:

	Escalade-V	X5 M
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	15.6 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade-V has standard 24-inch wheels. Smaller 21-inch wheels are standard on the X5 M Competition. The X5 M’s largest wheels are only 21-inches in the front and 22-inches in the rear.

The Cadillac Escalade-V’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X5 M only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Escalade-V has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X5 M doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Escalade-V has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X5 M; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade-V’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the X5 M (120.9 inches vs. 117 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade-V is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the X5 M.

For better maneuverability, the Escalade-V’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the X5 M’s (40.6 feet vs. 42 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Escalade-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X5 M doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escalade-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X5 M doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Escalade-V ESV offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the X5 M can only carry 5. The Escalade-V has standard seating for 7.

Cargo Capacity

The Escalade-V’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5 M.

	Escalade-V	X5 M
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	33.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121 cubic feet	72.3 cubic feet

The Escalade-V ESV’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5 M.

	Escalade-V	X5 M
Third Seat Folded	94.1 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	33.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	142.2 cubic feet	72.3 cubic feet

The Escalade-V’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 M’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Payload and Towing

The Escalade-V has a 7000 lbs. towing capacity. The X5 M has no towing capacity.

The Escalade-V has a higher standard payload capacity than the X5 M (1140 vs. 970 lbs.).

The Escalade-V has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X5 M (1300 vs. 970 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Escalade-V’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X5 M does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade-V’s power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The X5 M doesn’t offer a power rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escalade-V has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 M only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Escalade-V has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The X5 M doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Escalade-V has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats cost extra on the X5 M. The Escalade-V also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the X5 M.

Both the Cadillac Escalade-V and the BMW X5 M have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the Escalade-V also offers an optional wireless charging system in the second row seat with chargers for two devices. The X5 M does not.

The Escalade-V has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 M doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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